COLDWATER – Sentence has been handed down to a Coldwater man after he escaped from a police car last fall.

Branch County Circuit Court officials says 29 year old Zachary Sonnichsen entered a plea of guilty to resisting and obstructing a police officer along with a second offense of being a habitual offender. He was sentenced to between 16 months and three years.

By making the plea, the Branch County Prosecutors Office dismissed charges of escape, being in possession of drug paraphernalia and retail fraud. Court officials say Sonnichsen was originally wanted on a charge of absconding from his parole in July 2020. He was arrested October 10 by the Coldwater Police on a shoplifting charge at the Wal Mart store. He was placed in a police car, but managed to get free of his handcuffs, unlock the door and walk away.

Sonnichsen was chased down and taken back into custody a few minutes later.